……“The
Sadguru or Perfect Master or Qutab or Adept as he is called
differently, is the pivotal point in the administration
of the perceptible and the imperceptible universe around
us. In fact the word ‘Qutab’, itself means
pivot. Many visible and invisible activities stretching
to aeons of time are conducted by these Sadgurus or masters
working in unison with each other for the evolution of
the living and non-living aspects of Universe. It is difficult
to believe that the human civilization on this earth of
our’s, progressed exactly on the Darwinian presumptions
of evolution. Modern historical research does not have
the mechanism to delve into the vital role of these Sadgurus
in changing the history of human societies in all its
aspects. Some historians have briefly touched upon this
subject, but none has really undertaken any serious research
with this hypothesis or postulation that behind every
temporal ruler there is a spiritual ruler or that all
major changes in this world are programmed and got executed
by the Sadgurus, directly through the rulers and indirectly
through certain unknown methods and spiritual workers.
Therefore, historical research on the visible and invisible
roles of the spiritual masters or other spiritual personalities
working under the command of the Sadgurus in bringing
about fundamental changes on the earth is a need of the
day. In rare cases like the effect of Sadguru Ramdas on
the Maratha rule of Shivaji in India, one gets a glimpse
of the overt influence of a Sadguru on the political,
social and moral life of a society. Similarly the effect
and influence of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti of Ajmer and
of Nizammuddin Auliya of Delhi on the rulers of that time
can be historically established. Even if a scholar has
access to all the available historical data on the subject,
yet a total comprehension of the role of these Sadgurus
will be eluding him unless he has learnt about the secrets
of spiritual science under the guidance of a Sadguru.

I
have no doubt that behind every major and sudden happening
on this earth the causative force emanates from these
spiritual leaders. They programme, motivate, organize
and precipitate these happenings in order to bring in
a new order by changing the old. Changing of societal
or world orders can occur only when a mighty spiritual
thrust is given by the spiritual masters towards that
direction. If Moses, Christ, Prophet Mohammed or Guru
Nanak did not have the spiritual power with them, the
changes they brought about and the religious orders they
established would not have happened. Behind all such important
happenings like wars, peace, change of rulers and forms
of government, new discoveries and inventions in all fields
of knowledge, particularly in all streams of science,
their role can be seen. The unseen hands that write history
are the hands of Sadgurus, the divine incarnates of the
age. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi used to say that Allah i.e.
God has many officers all over. They are very powerful.

Centuries
back, a western philosopher Hegel, had indicated about
the movement of what he called ‘world spirit’
or ‘nature forces’ in precipitating major
incidents like wars. However, he did not spell-out the
mechanism by which and the process through which such
changes take place. Hindu spiritual science explains these
aspects in detail, which is known to a limited number
of individuals in the spiritual path. Such knowledge is
imparted by the Sadgurus to some deserving disciples only.

Avatara
Mehar Baba of Pune, India authenticates that there are
five Sadgurus or Perfect Masters at any point of time
on this earth. These Masters carry-on their arduous, and
majestic task of evolution of this planet, with the specific
emphasis on the human race. Besides the evolution of the
human race they are also busy in the evolution of all
other living and organic aspects of nature like the plants,
animals etc. It may seem surprising when it is said that
each of these Sadgurus or Perfect Masters can know every
detail and entire past of any person about whom either
they hear, or see, or touch or think. The entire memory
of any person in any way coming into contact with them
as explained is transferred to them in the flash of a
second. Since the memories of related persons and events
are in the memory of the man, these also get transferred.".........

FROM "LIFE OF SAI BABA" BY NARASIMHA SWAMI

……“
On the 5th of December 1910, G.S. Khaparde visited Shirdi
and found numerous officials, high and low, and masses
crowding to the feet of Baba. Baba was teaching people
in parables and was able to protect, for instance, police
officers, such as a head¬ constable charged with extortion
at a court, and to get them acquitted, and was rendering
great temporal and spiritual help to all and sundry. By
12th December 1910, he got permission to go away and left
Shirdi. It is after that date that the most serious time
for G.S. Khaparde began.

The
year 1911 was a period of trials for all extremists, as
the Government had the support of the moderates for crushing
the extremists and G.S. Khaparde being high up in the
list of extremists naturally stood in the same perilous
position. Any vigorous activity of patriots sufficed to
increase the severity of the policy of repression which
therefore attained Makshasic dimensions in, all Provinces.
Khaparde realised his own danger. Though he had a very
lucrative and roaring practice especially on the criminal
side, part of his clientele fell.

It was feared that the man who argued as a lawyer today
would tomorrow be locked up in jail; at first as an under-trial
prisoner and finally to be sent away to the Andamans or
some distant prison. His income declined and with it also
his health and the spirits of all the members of his family.
But he had already known where his Palladium or Sanctuary
was. So, on 6th December 1911, he arrived at Shirdi. Even
at his previous visit, Baba had said on 9-12-1910. ‘This
is your house. Why should anybody fear when I am here?’
This assurance was again given to Khaparde. But as his
funds were low, he and the members of his family who often
visited Shirdi, were very anxious that he should go back
to Amraoti to resume his practice.

However
clever he might be as a lawyer, he himself could not say
when the Government might pounce upon him and send him
to prison. But there was one person in the world who could
say it, who had that knowledge and who could exercise
his powers to snuff out all danger from him completely.
G.S. Khaparde had ample proof that Baba had knowledge
of everything that was happening everywhere and could
control the minds of everyone and control objects also
including the elements. So, he like others felt perfectly
safe in Baba’s immediate presence.

Whenever he got letters or telegrams at Shirdi offering
cases, the desire was strong to get back to Amraoti. So,
his sons and relations and clients came to take him away.
Shama on his behalf frequently asked Baba whether he could
get back. Sometimes Baba seemed to encourage him by giving
affirmative answers. But Baba would soon recall them and
say, ‘Go tomorrow’, which was Baba’s
way of saying, do not go.

Baba
wished to make perfectly certain that Khaparde would not
be prosecuted. ‘My eye of vigilant supervision is
ever on those who love Me’, said Baba and he was
perpetually watching the minds of the Governor and the
Home Member of the Central Provinces government and else
where; and he revealed to Mrs. Khaparde what he did and
how he watched. It is quite evident that the Government
Members were considering the prosecution of Khaparde for
sedition in respect of many of his speeches.

There would be no difficulty in finding matter for prosecution
under 124-A, of the Indian Penal Code, in the speeches
of Khaparde or any other patriotic extremist, for anything
and everything may be easily twisted and brought under
124-A. But the Government was noting that the sensation
created in the public mind by the trial of Lokamanya was
itself a powerful impetus to the demand for Indian Independence
and, therefore, if possible, they should avoid sensational
trials.

In
the case of Khaparde, who came to Baba on 6th December
1911 and stayed on at Shirdi with Baba for 3 months or
more, refusing to accept cases in various courts, rumors
got abroad that Khaparde had got crazy and had been fascinated
by a crazy fakir at Shirdi, and therefore, had refused
offer of cases and given up practice, politics, society
and every¬thing else, preferring the company of a
fakir. Such rumors must have reached the ears of the Government
Members or made to reach their ears by Baba, and Baba
must have made them think: Let sleeping dogs lie.

That
is, the foreign government had more advantage to gain
by not ordering more prosecutions of leaders which would
keep up political excitement in the country. It is this
decision among high places which was obviously denoted
by Baba’s words. It is noted in Khaparde's diary
dated the 29th December 1911 as follows,

He, Sai Baba told my wife that the Governor came with
a lance, than Sain Maharaj had a tussle with him and drove
him out; and that he finally conciliated the Governor.
G .S. Khaparde adds,

The language is highly figurative and therefore difficult
to interpret.

Being too close to the trees, he could not see the forest.
At this distance of time, there is no difficulty whatever
to interpret the above words. Sai Baba had given him abhayam
saying, ‘Why fear when I am here?’ and he
was carrying out his duty of protection. That protection
involved the prolonged stay of Khaparde at Shirdi, but
with his extremely aggressive worldly attachment, the
confinement within Shirdi was obviously irksome to the
impatient spirit of Khaparde.”……

DEVOTEE EXPERIENCE

‘He
who loves Him whole heartedly, gets response from Him
at any time, at any place.’

I
cannot clearly remember how and when I got a very small
clay idol of my beloved Sai Baba. At that time I knew
nothing about Him and placed Him in a showcase. Today,
I realize, the moment he stepped into my house was surely
the most auspicious moment of my life.

In
the year 1998, Sonia, a very close fiend of my daughter
gave us a photo of Baba and the holy book ‘Sri Sai
Satcharitra’. Since then we are showered by His
endless kindness and blessings. I have experienced many
incidents that cannot be explained by practical aspects.
From those precious experiences, one, I think is unbelievable.

A
relative of mine was preparing to go to Bombay. As I came
to know, I insisted that she go to Shirdi. I did not know
how much she believes Baba. I gave her an idol of Baba
and used to talk about Him and His kindness when she was
in distress. The day she set out for Bombay, I felt very
low.

I
have a long cherished desire to go to Shirdi. I don’t
know when He will allow me to bow my head down at His
Holy Lotus Feet. I felt very low and wept a lot. The next
day I found a saffron coloured multi-petalled chin rose
has bloomed. It was the first flower of that tiny plant.
The flower was exceptionally big and mesmerized me with
its brightness. I plucked it and placed it on Baba’s
Lotus Feet in my pooja room. It was 9 o’clock in
the morning.

All
day I was very busy. At about 10 o’clock at night
I suddenly noticed that the flower was still as fresh
as it was when I plucked it in the morning. It was paced
in the dry surface at Baba’s Feet and it got the
heat of the candle that I lit under the shelf in the morning
and evening. It haunts me a lot. It is not possible for
a tender flower to be fresh for such a long time.

I
have a habit that when I wake up in the morning, I first
open the door of the pooja room and give my pranam to
Baba. As I opened the door I was astonished. The flower
was just as fresh as it was yesterday morning. Tears came
to my eyes. In my conscience as if I heard – “I
am with you; My abode is in your heart and I am within
you.” I was thrilled.

That
day also the flower looked fresh. The next day at about
9 o’clock that is after 48 hours, the petals of
the flower started drying up. Later I went to the Sai
Baba’s temple where the pujariji insisted I buy
an audio CD as I was asking him for another one. I came
back home with that audio CD which pujariji persuaded
me to buy. It was a VCD. The songs were picturised inside
the Shirdi Mandir and the surrounding areas of the mandir.
I was spell bound.

I asked my relative to bring Udi, Prasad and photo of
Baba. She came back to Kolkata and left her bag over there
in Bombay. But unexpectedly I got Udi, Prasad and photo
of Baba from another person who also went to Shirdi at
the same time.

As
I am now unable to go to Shirdi, my generous Baba has
accepted my pooja and darshan this way. Deep in my heart
I consider all these incidents as His kindness. He is
omniscient – He is everywhere, I realize. He surely
sees all that we feel – all that we desire.

Baba,
my Deva bless me with Thy grace
Through the trials and ordeals I face
May I be merged with patience and faith
And may more love for You in me grow

The
devil is playing with my mind
Help me Father, to be rid of this maya
Purify my sight, help me to get an insight
And help me adapt to the way you want me to be

Help
me to not walk astray
Stabilize my emotions and help me be Kind to everyone
For the joy that I receive from you
Gives me willingness to fight the rival in me

Your
assurances and your Nirakara roopa
Stand by my side
And I find you reciprocating my prayers through Your loving
face,
As Thy strong hand lift me from despair
Nevertheless I hope to get there

I
need you Baba, all the time
You have never ever let me fear
In spite of my bitter moments and challenging times
You were always there
Cleaning me from my sins
Unfortunately Baba I misunderstood you
More of Thy will, I long to seek
Less of self, help me be cherubic and meek

Stupid that I am I always mourned
For the materialistic riches and searched for impermanent
permanence
And yet I did not realize that I would find You
Day in and day out
in the life that I lead.

Baba, help me trod on for the road seems dark
Each step taken will leave a mark
I see you in the help you extend and
Of late learnt that you are in every obstacle
I know not what the future may hold
Days could be warm, or dreary and cold
But Lord, may I always remember thy blessings
For they are the one constant that always come my way

One who engages only in right actions is said to be upholding
the Dharma or Values. Right conduct and right actions
would help him, who wants to progress in his spiritual
quest. Actions form an integral part of human beings.
As Lord Shri Krishna says in Bhagvad Geeta that Man does
not attain freedom from action (culmination of the discipline
of Action) without entering upon action; nor does he reach
perfection (culmination of the discipline of knowledge)
merely by ceasing to act (ch 3 : stz 4). Basically there
is action even in inaction.

The
four objects in a man’s life viz Dharma, artha,
kama and moksha can be attained by following any one of
the following paths viz, karma, dhyan, yoga and bhakti.
In present context it becomes impossible to sit in one
place and concentrate on God or practice yoga whereas
Bhakthi or pure devotion is achieved only when a man understands
the mystic and divine creation of the God. This requires
knowledge and also ability to perceive God in all beings
which is difficult in the present world.

This
leaves man with one choice, Karma. Karma is another way
to reach the spiritual goal. Karma means engaging in actions
which would enable a man to achieve all the four objectives
in his life. One may ask how can performing action enable
a man to achieve spiritual progression? All actions that
man engages in must be done consciously with the objective
of helping not just himself or his kith and kin but also
fellow beings. A spiritual man understands that all pain
and pleasure is the act of God and that to help others
and ease their pain in the time of need, share the wealth
among needy and extend love beyond his family members
and consider everybody to the embodiment of the Lord such
person is said to behold dharma, and every action of his
drives him to achieving his chief objectives in life.

Sai
Satcharita tells us how to uphold dharma by right conduct;
it tells us how should a man conduct himself in the world
while engaging in his day to day activities. All actions
of a sincere devotee arise for the purpose of following
the Dharma. Dharma and Karma are two sides of the same
coin and go hand in hand. Indulging in one leads to establishing
the other. In order for a man to uphold Dharma he has
to take the help of his intellect and engage in actions
(karma) that would enable him to act in a way to be able
to establish righteousness in his life. Right action leads
to right conduct which thereby establishes correct values
in life. In Chapter 1 of Sai Satcharita, Hemadpant writes
about Baba, who says that Knowledge or Self-realization
is not possible, unless there is the prior act of grinding
of all our impulses, desires, sins. The action of grinding
our undesirable virtues constitutes Karma.

Sai
Satcharita has the life stories of followers of Baba who
in their simple love for Baba and engaging in their activities
have attained the chief objectives of their life. Baba,
the Lord God on this earth has set an example for His
followers to act accordingly. In answer to the prayers
of the sincere and humble devotees, God comes to the earth
in the form of a saint to remove their problems and guide
them in the right path as promised by lord Krishna in
Bhagvat Geeta For the protection of the virtuous, for
the extirpation of evil-does, and for establishing Dharma
(righteousness) on a firm footing, I am born from age
to age (Bhagvad Geeta ch 4 : Stz 8).

The
trouble with man is that when he knows or learns too much
he thinks he knows it all. One drawback of a learned man
is his inflated pride or ego. P.K Shaw once said the trouble
with the fertile mind is that the weeds grow as prolific
as the pastures. The weeds, in the spiritual context are
ego, pride, and anger at not being acknowledged that he
is more learned than others. One might wonder, being a
divine man, Baba could have sat at one place without having
to indulge in any action but why did He not do so? What
is the purpose behind such an action from Baba?

The
answer is simple, Baba wanted to set an example for His
followers that one has to indulge in action in order to
achieve the spiritual goal. Also Baba wanted to teach
His followers that one should use intelligence to discriminate
from right action from wrong and always consciously serve
Baba by serving His children. Events in the life of Baba,
as depicted in Sai Satcharita remind us that one should
remain unperturbed in the face of adverse situations,
Baba was called a mad fakir, He was stoned, and when He
went to collect oil from shopkeepers to light the lamps
in His masjid, they refused to give any oil. Inspite of
all these hurdles Baba moved not an inch from His routine.
He did what He was doing everyday. Of course being a divine
satpurusha, He was able to light the lamps with water.

Sai
Satcharita shows that if one were sincere in devotion
and love towards Guru or God then all the powers of the
God will come to such a person without him striving for
them. Baba also showed us how to conduct oneself as a
devotee and as a disciple in the story of Pseudo-Guru
Javhar Ali who was puffed with pride about his learnedness
and even called Baba his disciple. Baba knew the defects
of the so called Guru, still He never disrespected him,
observing carefully His duties. He even served the Master
in various ways. This shows the humility and simplicity
of Baba. In order for a man to achieve the highest goal
in life one has to be humble and sincere in their quest
for truth.

Our
actions (prarabdha karma) performed today form the basis
of the life we lead tomorrow or in next birth. All the
examples in Sai Satcharita point us to one direction -
that Karma has a priority in our spiritually quest. Doing
right actions would enable us to uphold right values.

Baba
bless us and guide us always in doing right actions to
uphold dharma.

Life is a campaign against one's inner foes; it is a battle
with obstacles, temptations, hardships and hesitations.
These foes are within man and so the battle has to be
incessant and perpetual. Like the virus that thrives in
the bloodstream, the vices of lust, greed, hate, malice,
pride and envy sap the energy and faith of man and ruin
him.

Naresh
Kundanani,Mumbai

We
talk of Faith, Love and Devotion, but do we really possess
these qualities? If our concentration deviates for a second
and if we doubt the workings of God even for a minute,
and get frustrated in life and question the ability of
God and look yonder to seek sources to fulfill our whims,
then such qualities do not befit a devotee who has unflinching
faith and love towards Sadguru. Let us stop speculating
and be prepared to accept things as they come - that is
the first step towards developing faith. May Sri Sai Baba
give us this ability.

Shri
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Canada, (Toronto) cordially
invite Devotees to attend - volunteer - Receive Baba's
Grace and be Immersed in Divine Bliss on the AUSPICIOUS
day of THURSDAY 6:30PM at the GUR MANDIR 207 Queen's Plate
Drive., Etobicoke (South of Steeles on the East side of
Highway 27 on Queen's Plate)

Invocation
Ceremony of Baba's Divine Blessings will be conducted
with Sacred Ashtotra Namavali to the accompaniment of
Bhajans, Satcharita Paraayan, Naivedaya Offerings Dhoop
Aarti and Mahaprasaad (Preeti Bhoj) Devotees are welcome
to bring a dish for Naivedaya Offerings as inspired by
Baba. Details at www.shirdisainath.org

By
the grace of our Shirdi Sai we are happy to announce the
inauguration of Shri Shirdi Sai Temple in LA region in
the city of Montebello. We need the support of all Sai
Devotees. For more information please email krishna@shirdisaila.org

The North America Shirdi Sai Temple is located at 700
James Burgess Road,Suwanee GA 30024.Temple is open all
seven days of the week. Baba's Kakad Aarti, Abhishek Puja,
Madhyan Aarti, Dhoop Aarti and Shej Aarti are performed
every day. Bhajans are sung on all thursday and sunday
evenings. For information regarding the daily schedule,
temple activities and events please visit Mandir's website:
www.templeofpeace.org
or call 678-455-7200

This
is to inform all of you that we have a Shirdi Sai Baba
Temple in Malaysia. Here we have daily prayers and special
prayers on thursday mornings 9.00am and bhajans and satsang
from 8 pm onwards. Also breakfast, lunch and dinner, cooked
by our seva-group is provided to all devotees. other than
that first thursday of the month we have talk on spirituality,
second thursday on health, third thursday satsang on Sai
Satcharitra, fourth thursday talk on general topics, by
experts in the respective fields. Lot of charitable activities
are conducted by our Centre,like sponsoring immediate
services to childrens\' homes, old-folks homes, sick and
needy, etc. etc.

The
dream of having a full fledged exclusive Shirdi Sai Temple
in Singapore, will soon come true. Thanks to the efforts
of a Sai devotee in making this happen. The Shirdi Sai
Baba Centre in Singapore is now live with the 3rd floor
function hall, Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman temple, being
secured and converted to a full fledged exclusive Shirdi
Sai worship centre. The Centre will be devoted to celebrating
the life & teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba only. For
more information visit our website http://www.saisansthan.com/

You may have given many different gifts to your
friends and loved ones, but giving a subscription of "Heritage
of Shirdi Sai" magazine would be a unique gift as it connects
the people you love with SADGURU SHIRDI SAI and brings
His blessings with the gift.

Topic of Discussion feature is
intended to initiate useful discussions on topics
related to Shirdi Sai Philosophy and His teachings,
Guru Tradition, Teachings of the Sadguru,
the nature and functions of the Perfect Masters,
true devotion, qualification of a disciple, etc.

Send your poem, article or drawing on SHIRDI SAI
BABA and the best ones will be showcased in Heritage of
Shirdi Sai Magazine and in the Children section on our
website. Anybody upto 18 years of age can send in the
material.

In order to ensure that Heritage Of
Shirdi Sai sustains itself and is available to devotees
at affordable rates, we do solicit advertisements. However,
in keeping with the magazine’s philosophy and approach,
the advertisements would be displayed as banners and
not creative commercial product.